Free Paper Example on Carnal Screen (Sex in Cinema)

Introduction

Sex in cinema started being evident in screens after moralists highly objected to the film-making industry's development and the levels of nudity and sexuality in the films. The below essay is critically analyzing ideologies and theories revolving around sexual content in movies with relation to the theme of the sexual revolution. The movie focused on this essay is the film The Graduate, which was produced by Lawrence Turman and released on 22nd December 1967. The below essay is bringing across the sexuality theories that emerge from the film The Graduate. In this essay, there is still discussion of the history of the film, industrial and technological state, genre convention, industrial status, reception modes, exhibition and the film circulation, the address mode, and the film's place in the cultural framework.

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Sexual Ideologies in the Film, the Graduate

Sexual ideologies brought about in the film The Graduate include eradication of the age factor in sexual affairs. In the film, a young character, namely Benjamin Braddock, a recent college graduate, begins an affair with a much older lady character, Mrs Robinson. She is a friend of Benjamin's parents. The affair between Benjamin and Mrs Robinson presents the ideology of younger male individuals being involved in sexual affairs with older females, contrary to the existent ideology of male individuals only being involved in sexual affairs with female individuals younger than the males.

The sexual ideology that presents itself from the movie The Graduate is involvement in sexual intercourse only at one will and conscience. In the film The Graduate, Mrs Robinson forces Benjamin to drink an alcoholic drink. Mrs Robinson also forces Benjamin to drive her home. When Benjamin drives Mrs Robinson home, she forces Benjamin to sleep with her, but Benjamin declines. Mrs Robinson then tells Benjamin that she was available to arrange at any time, giving Benjamin an option to refuse Mrs Robinson's sexual demands.

Sexual Theories in the Film, The Graduate

The sexual theory evident in the film The Graduate is the two-sex theory that led to the foundations of the known gender: male and female. The two-sex theory is justified by the presence of uterus in the females, hence the distinction of males from females, therefore supporting the current existent of nature. In the film, the graduate, the two-sex gender is evident through the attire used in the film. Attire used in the film the graduate recognizes and depicts the difference in gender. Male characters wear male suits, which is an attire recognizing the male gender. Female characters put on dresses and skirts, and attire that recognizes the female gender.

Historical Context in the Film, The Graduate

The historical context of the film The Graduate is in the late 1960s after World War II when carnal in screens was not supported. Showing sexual scenes in films was not accepted by society. However, there were no regulations that restricted sexual content in films. The film The Graduate defiled the social norms by showing sexual content in such a society. Sexual scenes in the film led to the establishment of regulations by the film industry in collaboration with the governing authority restricting showing sexual content in films. Regulations regulating sex in cinema with time were revised. That was caused by the revolution of sex view by society.

The Industrial Context in the Film the Graduate

Industrial development in the historical time 1960s influenced the release of the film The Graduate as it was produced after the film-industry was developed. Industry development facilitated movie productions by encouraging the local communists to put novels and creativity into video productions. The establishment of film-industry also facilitated the development of film-making equipment, which also had a great impact on film making. Industrialization saw the formation of organizations that controlled the discrimination cases around the film productions. The industrialization body's measures put in force created an enabling environment towards the production of the film The Graduate.

Technology Context of the Film, The Graduate

Technology context had faced a significant revolution in the 1960s since there was the production of screens, projectors, and sound equipment. Technology revolution which took place in the 1960s boosted the film industry due to better equipment which made it possible to make video content, view video content by use of projectors, the accompaniment of video content with sound content and the presentation of sound content via speakers. Availability of equipment aided in the film The Graduate's production because it was possible to display the work and also influenced the community to provide a ready market to the film industry.

The Social Context in the Film the Graduate

The social context in the 1960s did not conform to carnal use in films but was against it and considered sex in cinema as a highly immoral practice. Socially, nudism and sexual advances were considered highly discreet and only meant for the married. The film The Graduate depicted a different social context by showing sexual scenes, nudity, and promoting socially unacceptable vices such as young men being involved in sexual affairs with older women when a young male character Benjamin is in a sexual affair with an older female character namely Mrs Robinson.

Mode of Production in the Film, The Graduate

The social context of the individuals majorly influenced the production mode of films in the 1960s. The development of film-industry played a major role in the modes of film production as the film-industry supported the local movie producers by providing a conducive environment for film production. The film industry saw the funding towards establishing theatres and supporting the development of movie production equipment such as cameras, recorders, projectors, and speakers influencing the film production mode. Establishment of an industrial status, which led to the establishment and growth of organizations such as Hollywood, led to the establishment of different film-making modes since there was a competition between the independent producers and Hollywood leading to the production of the film The Graduate.

Reception Modes, Exhibition, and Circulation of the Film, The Graduate

Reception modes were established that saw the preparation of places used for film viewing in the 1960s. Establishment of better film viewing stations made the community have the desire to view films, hence the provision of a ready market form the film-making industry. Good reception for the film industry led to the film industry's growth, which influenced film circulation. Available reception modes that led to film demand motivated the film-making industry, hence producing the film The Graduate.

Mode of Address in the Film, The Graduate

Modes used to address contemporary issues in the society by the film The Graduate comprises of stage play whereby scenes to specifically put across to pass information or address factors affecting the society such as exploitation and violation of human rights. Scenes such as when Benjamin refused to indulge in sexual intercourse with Mrs Robinson forced him to address the issue of forceful sexual activities. Mrs Robinson tells Benjamin that they could plan for another day to meet. That scene explains that what people feel and want should be respected. Instead of having things in one's way, a dialogue should be practised, leading to a consensus but not forcing people to indulge in acts against their will.

Socio-Cultural Framework Place of the Film the Graduate

The socio-cultural framework of the film The Graduate in the 1960s was different from the local community's socio-cultural framework. Sex in cinema was not conformed to by the local community. The film The Graduate incorporated sexual scenes. The film also comprised a sexual affair between a young male character, Benson, and an older female character Mrs Robinson, which was also not in line with the community norms against young males being involved in sexual affairs with older females in the society.

Conclusion

The carnal screen in the 1960s was viewed as a supporter for immorality as it supported sex scenes in cinema. However, the film The Graduate produced on the 22nd December 1967 defied such norms by incorporating sexual scenes. The film portrayed sexual affair and being involved in sexual activities only at will ideologies. The film revolved around the two-sex theory. The production of the film The Graduated was influenced by the historic context, industrial and technological advancements, available social contexts, varied modes of production, reception, exhibition, and circulation, and the film's socio-cultural framework was different from the community's socio-cultural framework.

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